Police appeal in toilet murder investigation

Members of the public who were near Walton Bridge or New Zealand Avenue between 1pm and 3.30pm last Tuesday should contact Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222.

Detectives investigating the murder of a gay man in a public toilet last week are appealing for anyone who was in the area that afternoon to come forward.

Last Tuesday 50-year-old Peter Jeffrey Akers, known as Jeff, was found in the gent’s toilet near Walton Bridge in Walton-on-Thames.

He had been stabbed. Despite being rushed to hospital by air ambulance he died of his injuries later that afternoon.

Mark Malone, aged 29, from Walton-on-Thames, handed himself in to police the next morning and was arrested in connection with the murder.

Following a court appearance last Friday Mr Malone was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Friday, 13th June.

The toilets by Walton Bridge where Mr Akers was murdered are a well-known cruising area.

Surrey Police would like to hear from visitors to the public toilets last Tuesday and is encouraging anyone who may have been the victim of a crime at this location to come forward.

They will not need to say why they were visiting the site but will simply be given the opportunity to share information with the police.

Officers and neighbourhood teams on North Surrey Division have been distributing leaflets asking for members of the public who were near Walton Bridge or New Zealand Avenue between 1pm and 3.30pm last Tuesday to contact Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222 or, if they would rather not give their name, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

In particular, officers are appealing to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious, odd or out of the ordinary, or someone behaving in a peculiar way, or who might have any other information to help the inquiry.